The Bible

The word Bible is derived from the Greek word biblia i.e. booksThe books of the Bible are sacred because they are inspired by God.The books in the Bible are canonical. They are definitively and solemnly determined in 1546 by the Council of Trent.The Bible

Signifies the origin of the Bible

All scriptures are inspired by God and is useful for teaching (2 Tm 3:16)

God so moved the inspired writers by His supernatural operation that he incited them to write, and assisted them in their writing so that they correctly conceived, accurately wrote down and truthfully expressed all that He intended and only what He intended; and only thus can God be the author of the BibleDivine Inspiration

Pope Leo XIII Providentissimus Deus, 18932

It is not Divine Dictation

2. It is not Negative Assistance theory

3. It is not Subsequent ApprobationWhat Divine Inspiration is not?

Two Elements:God is actively present in a unique manner in the composition of the biblical books. (cf. 2 Tim 3: 13-17; 1 Pt. 1:20-21)2. The freedom of the human authors in making use of their own talents, and resources in cooperation with the Spirit of God ( Lk. 1:1-4, Jer. 36: 17-18)Divine Inspiration

But you remain faithful to what you have learned and believed because you know from whom you learned itAnd that from infancy you have known the sacred in Jesus scripture is capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faithIn Jesus Christ. All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in Righteousness. So that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3: 14-17

Luke 1:1-4New American Standard Bible (NASB)Introduction1Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things [a] accomplished among us, 2just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning [b]were eyewitnesses and [c] servants of the [d]word, 3it seemed fitting for me as well, having [e]investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; 4so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been [f] taught.

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Basic principles:The words of the Bible are true only in the sense in which human authemhors conveyed them. Therefore we must determine how they thought,what influenced them etc.2. The human author was not necessarily without error. But Inerrancy means that the authors opinion, and convictions did not affect the messageInerrancy

5. Inerrancy applies to those essential religious affirmations which are made for the sake of salvation.

The Books of the Scripture must acknowledged as teaching firmly, faithfully, and without error that truth which God wanted put into the Sacred Writings for the sake of our salvation . Dogmatic Constitution on Divine RevelationInerrancy : Basic Principles

Canon refers to the list of books considered as inspired writings.

Old Testament canon is based on the Jewish canon.

There are 46 OT books considered by the Catholic Church as inspired writings.

The Biblical canon

621 BC Finding of Deuteronomic code in the temple400 BC The Pentateuch is published as the Torah or Law and later accepted as the word of God written.200 BC prophetic writings become part of the OT . After 70 AD - Two Jewish canons were formed1. Palestinian canon (Jamnia by Johanan ben Zakkai) accepted 39 books 2. Alexandrian canon accepted 46 booksDevelopment of OT canon

Other Christians follow the Palestinian canon

Catholics follow the Alexandrian canon which includes 1& 2 Maccabees, Tobit, Judith, Sirach, Wisdom, and Baruch and some additional parts of Esther and Daniel. These books are called Deutero-canonical books in the Catholic tradition while other Christians regarded these books as apocryphal writings

Catholic OT canon

The song of Miriam in Exodus 15. It is dated at the time of exodus from Egypt in 1280 BC

The song of Deborah in Judges 5. It is composed after the battle at Taanach in 1125 BC

Earliest OT Writings

30-40 AD collection of Jesus sayings now called Q Quelle in German i.e. source

50 -51AD - 1 &2 Thessalonians 54-59 AD Doctrinal Letters of Paul: 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians and Romans - Pastoral Letters: 1&2 Timothy, Titus - Captivity letters: Philemon, Eph, Col, Phil

Development of NT canon

Apostolic originThe importance of the community addressedThe centrality of the doctrine containedThe community of believers saw their own faith in these books as in a mirror.Bases for Canonization

The Gospel according to1.Matthew - 282.Mark - 163.Luke - 244.John - 21

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Symbols of the 4 Gospelsby Fr. Felix Just. S.J. PhD

Historical Writing5. The Acts of the Apostles - 28

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Doctrinal Letters of Paul6. Romans - 167. 1Corinthians- 168. 2 Corinthians -139. Galatians - 6

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Captivity Letters of Paul10. Ephesians - 611. Philippians- 412. Colossians- 413. Philemon - 1

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Pastoral Letters of Paul14. 1 Timothy - 615. 2 Timothy - 416. Titus - 3

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Earliest Writings17. I Thessalonians - 518. 2Thessalonians - 3

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The Catholic Epistles20. James -5 24. 2 John - 1 21. 1Peter - 5 25. 3John - 122. 2Peter - 3 26. Jude - 123. I John - 5

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Apocalyptic Writing27. Revelation - 22

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